Caribbean nations are urging residents to take immediate emergency measures as Hurricane Beryl, the first named hurricane of the season, intensifies and approaches their shores. Forecasted to make landfall late Sunday, Beryl has been classified as a “very dangerous” category three storm, with winds expected to reach between 111 and 130 mph (179-209 km/h).
The hurricane, which formed from a tropical storm on Friday night, is predicted to strengthen further as it nears the islands of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, and others in the region. Preparations are underway, with people boarding up their homes, queuing for fuel, and stockpiling essential supplies and water.
In an address to the nation on Saturday night, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley urged residents to look out for their friends, family, and neighbors. Barbados’ meteorological service has issued warnings of power outages and flash flooding, anticipating that the eye of the hurricane will pass approximately 26 miles (45 km) south of the island. The storm is expected to drop up to six inches (15 cm) of rain on Caribbean islands, including Barbados.
In the capital, Bridgetown, residents are thronging supermarkets and petrol stations in preparation for the storm. Prime Minister Mottley emphasized the need for vigilance and precaution. “We remain absolutely vigilant and need to take every precaution that is possible for ourselves, for our family, and for our neighbors,” she said.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has urged supermarket and petrol station owners to extend their opening hours to accommodate residents preparing for the hurricane. Emergency shelters will open on Sunday evening to provide refuge for those in need.
Dominica’s government shared an online briefing where meteorologist Ithoma James warned residents to be prepared for potentially devastating impacts. The region’s hurricane season, running from June 1 to November 30, is expected to be particularly active this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted up to 25 named storms, with between eight and 13 potentially developing into hurricanes. Of these, four to seven could strengthen into category three or more severe hurricanes, which is more than double the usual number.
Hurricane Beryl is one of the earliest and most powerful storms predicted for the season. Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert, noted on social media the rarity of such a strong storm occurring so early in the season, especially this far east in the deep tropics. “Only five major (category 3+) hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July. Beryl would be the sixth and earliest this far east in the tropical Atlantic,” Lowry wrote.
With 19 named storms in the 2023 hurricane season, the region is no stranger to such weather events. However, the early arrival and intensity of Hurricane Beryl serve as a stark reminder of the potential severity of this year’s hurricane season. Residents across the Caribbean are urged to stay informed and take all necessary precautions as the storm approaches.